James Joyce

James Joyce was given credit for the "rebirth" of the medium of writing during his time period. I did not realize he was the author of "Ulysses." I had read that in the past. Due to this, I wanted to focus on "Clay," which was an excerpt from "Dubliners." I must admit that I was not very impressed with this piece of work. I found that it was not able to keep my attention, and I often found myself gazing off. Joyce describes what happens to the character, Maria, who works as a maid. She was "giver ... leave to go out," (1134) so she was going to a party. Maria's character seemed frustrated: only the ederly man on the tram noticed her, she had lost the cake to give Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly, and nearly cried after realizing this. He writes, "at the thought of the failure of her little surprise and of the two and fourpence she had thrown away for nothing, she nearly cried outright," (1136).

Joe had a short temper in the story. When they could not find the nutcracker, he grew angry. Joyce writes, "Joe said he wasn't so bad when you knew how to take him, that he was a decent sort so long you as you didn't rub him the wrong way," (1136). Joe hated his brother and said, "God might strike him stone dead if ever he spoke a word to his brother again," (1136). I felt sorry for Maria, for having to put up with such a man! Nowdays, most people do not behave in such a dominating fashion, but I have met such individuals! Like Maria, I too, felt uncomfortable around them.

The story ends with her singing. "I Dreamt that I Dwelt," (1137). This song moved Mr. Donnelly so much that he had tears in his eyes. Joyce writes, "...his eyes filled up so much with tears that he could not find what he was looking for and in the end had to ask his wife to tell him where the corkscrew was," (1138).